Ford legacy to be marked at fest

Fordson tractors and the Legacy of Henry Ford will be celebrated at Newby Hall this summer when the two-day tractor festival returns.

The event, on June 10 and 11, will also showcase 1,500 exhibits of not only vintage tractors, but engines, commercial vehicles, cars and motorcycles from around the UK and Europe.

Organised by the Yorkshire Vintage Association and sponsored by Europe’s leading agricultural and machinery auctioneers Cheffins, the festival attracts more than 10,000 visitors.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the show at Newby Hall, as well as the 100th anniversary of the manufacture of Fordson Tractors by Henry Ford.

“The first commercially affordable machines, Ford Tractors were imported into the UK in 1917 to help produce desperately needed food at a time when the manpower that would ordinarily be employed in farming was at war,” said a spokesman for the festival.

“As with the car, Henry Ford’s Automobile Plow revolutionised food production, numbering the days of ploughs pulled by horses and changing the world of farming forever.”

A wide range of vintage Ford and Fordson Tractors will be among the showcased engines of all marques at the show which is being supported by the Ford and Fordson Association and the Blue Force club, as well as New Holland Agriculture and Russell Farm Machinery.

A range of fun family activities will include opportunities for children to drive mini tractors around a specially constructed track, arts and crafts, interactive exhibits and trade and food stands, making Tractor Fest the perfect family day out.

The first day will end in the popular spectacle of the March of the Tractors which will once again start at Newby Hall, following a route into Ripon centre and end in the Market Square (Saturday 10 June only from 5.30-7pm). Shops, cafés and restaurants will stay open to mark the occasion. The sounding of the Ripon Hornblower’s historic horn will send the tractors on their way back to Newby Hall at 7pm.

Yorkshire Vintage Association chairman, Richard Sturdy, added: “We’re delighted to be celebrating the tenth anniversary of Tractor Fest at Newby with the support of Cheffins. This enables us to continue the show’s development.”

Tickets - £11.50 adults and seniors, £8.50 children, under 4’s go free - includes entry to the garden and adventure garden. For more information on Tractor Fest and to buy tickets please visit: www.newbyhall.com/events/tractor-fest-2017 or telephone 01423 322583.